Defence ministry approves Rs1.45 lakh crore capital acquisition proposals for defence forces

Defence ministry has lined up Rs1.45 lakh crore capital acquisition programme for the Defence forces, which include procurement of future-ready combat vehicles, air defence fire control radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, next generation fast petrol and offshore petrol vessels etc.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs1,44,716 crore, 99 per cent of which are indigenously manufactured.

These are to be procured from indigenous sources under Buy (Indian) and Buy (lndian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories.

The DAC has cleared the Army’s proposal for procurement of future ready combat vehicles (FRCVs) for modernisation of its tank fleet. The FRCVs, with superior mobility, all terrain ability, multilayered protections, precision and lethal fires and real-time situational awareness, will replace the current fleet of Main Battle Tanks (MBT).

The Air Defence Fire Control Radars are used to detect and track aerial target and provide firing solution. Designed and developed by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd, the Forward Repair Team has suitable cross country mobility for carrying out in-situ repair during mechanised operations. 

The procurement of Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol Vessels and Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, having high operational features in rough weather conditions, will enhance the capability of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

The Cabinet Committee on Security had, on Monday, approved procurement of 240 aero-engines (AL-31FP) for Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30 MKI aircraft from HAL, involving an expenditure of Rs26,000 crore.

These engines will be procured under the Buy (Indian) category and will have indigenous content of over 54 per cent. Delivery of these aero-engines, to be manufactured at Koraput division of HAL, will be completed over a period of eight years starting next year.